Statement by United States Commissioner of Education Earl James McGrath to the New York Times

STATEMENT * The only sure, permanent foundation for peace is understanding among the peoples of the various nations of the world. To gain this understanding many of the citizens of the world community must come into immediate contact with their neighbors in other lands. As anyone knows who has traveled in other sections of the world there is at present much misunderstanding concerning the purposes and the character of American life, and there is likewise much misunderstanding among our own people concerning the character and culture of other nations. To reduce misunderstanding and to create harmony among peoples a number of programs for the exchange of persons have been launched. Among these I feel the exchange of teachers is one of the most significant because it provides an opportunity for American teachers to live for a period of months in communities in other countries and to observe there directly the everyday lives of other people. It likewise provides an opportunity for teachers from other countries to live in many sections of the United States and to observe us in our normal daily activities. Attitudes developed in these associations will be reflected in our own national life and similar attitudes of cooperation and understanding will be reflected in the thinking and actions of other nationals. As a result we may hove over the years that a firm psychological foundation may thus be laid for a continuing peace. * By Earl James McGrath, U.S. Commissioner of Education, Federal Security Agency, Washington, D. C. on Teacher Exchange to the New York Times, August 13, 1952.